Bicycle Handle

ABSTRACT

A bicycle handle, which is suitable in particular for trekking and mountain bikes, comprises a sleeve with a sleeve slot in it. The sleeve is connected to a grip element. For fastening the bicycle handle on a bicycle handlebar, the sleeve is mounted to the bicycle handlebar, and a clamping device is provided in a clamping region of the sleeve. A barend is connected to the clamping device. In order to avoid rotation of the barend, it is provided according to the disclosure that a rotation-prevention device is arranged between the clamping device and the bicycle handlebar.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to a bicycle handle, particularly a bicyclehandle for trekking bikes and mountain bikes.

2. Discussion of the Background Art

Bicycle handles comprise e.g. a cylindrical and preferably slottedshell, said shell being fastened to the bicycle handlebar by use of aclamping device. With the aid of the clamping device, the slotted shellis pressed together, thereby effecting a clamping attachment of thebicycle handle to the bicycle handlebar.

From WO 2005/021366, there is known a bicycle handle comprising aslotted shell to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar. Said shell isconnected to a grip element. Further, the shell comprises a clampingregion provided particularly on the outer side of the handle. Forattaching the bicycle handle to the bicycle handlebar, a clamping deviceformed as a barend will be arranged to surround the clamping region ofthe shell. With the aid of a screw, the shell will then be clamped tothe bicycle handlebar.

Known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,759 is a bicycle handle provided with abarend. The bicycle handle comprises a shell made of a relatively stiffmaterial and adapted to be mounted to an end of the handlebar, whichshell is surrounded by a grip element made of soft material. Forpositional fixation of the shell, the shell is on both of its endsprovided with projections extending in the longitudinal direction. Saidprojections are configured to engage annular clamping devices which arealso arranged on both sides of the bicycle handle. The two clampingdevices have an annular shape and comprise a radial slot. Clamping isperformed with the aid of a screw by reducing the width of the slot. Thehandlebar barend is separately fastened to the handlebar by use of afurther clamping connection.

In case of relatively long barends, particularly when a mountain bike isused for a ride in the open landscape, it may happen that high forcesand moments will occur in the region of the clamping connection. Thiseffect may cause a rotational displacement of the barend. Particularlyif the barend serves as a clamping device and surrounds a shell made ofplastic or a similar material, creeping of the shell material may occur.Rotational displacement of the barend poses a considerable safety risk.

It is an object of the disclosure to provide a bicycle handle having abarend wherein a rotational displacement of the barend is avoided evenin case of high forces.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The bicycle handle of the disclosure, which is particularly provided asa bicycle handle for trekking bikes and mountain bikes, comprises asleeve having a sleeve slot formed therein. The sleeve is provided to bemounted to a bicycle handlebar and comprises a clamping region arrangedat an edge of the sleeve. Said sleeve slot preferably extends along thewhole clamping region. The sleeve is connected to a grip element whichis preferably made of a softer plastic. Alternatively, the shell and thegrip element can be combined to form one integral piece. For fasteningthe bicycle handle to the bicycle handlebar, a clamping device isarranged in the clamping region of the shell; said clamping device canbe connected to a barend, or the barend itself can have a suitable shapefor serving as a clamping device so that the clamping device and thebarend are formed as one integral piece. To avoid rotationaldisplacement of the barend and/or of the bicycle handle which possiblydoes not comprise a barend, it is provided according to the disclosurethat a rotation-prevention means is arranged between the clampingdevice, particularly the clamping device formed as a barend, and thebicycle handlebar. By the provision of such a rotation-prevention means,it is safeguarded that a rotational displacement of the barend isprecluded even in case of high forces. This leads to a considerableimprovement of safety.

Preferably, the rotation-prevention means is configured to surround thebicycle handlebar at least partially. The rotation-prevention means canespecially have the shape of a ring or ring segment. Further, accordingto a particularly preferred embodiment, the rotation-prevention means isformed as a slotted ring. In such an arrangement, the ring preferablyextends in the axial direction, i.e. in the longitudinal direction ofthe bicycle handlebar.

The above rotation-prevention means is preferably directly connected tothe clamping device and respectively to the barend formed as theclamping device, and—if required—can also be formed as one integralcomponent so that the clamping device and respectively the barendcomprise an annular projection oriented in the direction of thehandlebar. In the mounted condition, the rotation-prevention means ispreferably arranged in contact with the outer side of the bicyclehandlebar. Preferably, the rotation-prevention means is thus locatedimmediately between the clamping device and the bicycle handlebar.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rotation-prevention means isfurther connected to said shell. This connection preferably is aform-fitting connection effected e.g. by a toothing arrangement or thelike. Preferably, the rotation-prevention means or the shell includes arecess which extends in the axial direction and is engaged by aprojection arranged on the shell or the rotation-prevention means andalso extending in the axial direction. By the connection between therotation-prevention means and the shell, it is further safeguarded thata rotational displacement of the grip element and respectively the shellon the bicycle handlebar is prevented. This is of advantage particularlyin bicycle handles wherein the grip elements comprise a support elementfor support of the palm of the hand.

According to the disclosure, the clamping device preferably comprises anannular region or projection which fully surrounds the preferably alsoannular rotation-prevention means. This feature will guarantee a goodtransmission of forces and/or moments.

With particular preference, the clamping device comprises a clampingsurface having the rotation-prevention means abutting thereon, havingthe rotation-prevention means connected thereto e.g. by bonding, and/orbeing connected to the clamping device by a form-fitting connection.Further, the clamping surface of the clamping device protrudes into theclamping region of the shell. Preferably, the whole clamping region ofthe shell is arranged within the clamping device and thus in completeabutment on the clamping surface.

The preferably annular rotation-prevention means has an outer diametercorresponding to the outer diameter of the shell in the clamping region.Preferably, thus, a cylindrical face is formed by the clamping regionand the outer side of the rotation-prevention means. The clamping devicepreferably comprises a likewise cylindrical clamping surface, thediameter of the clamping device in the unclamped condition beingslightly larger than the diameter of the cylindrical face formed by theouter side of the rotation-prevention means and by the correspondingouter region of the shell.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the clampingdevice has a dual function since it is operative both for clamping theshell of the bicycle handle and for holding the barend by clamping. Thisdual function is obtained in that both the rotation-prevention means andthe clamping region of the shell are arranged within the clampingdevice.

Since the rotation-prevention means is fastened to the bicycle handlebarpreferably by a friction-fitting connection, the rotation-preventionmeans is preferably made of metal, particularly aluminum. By theprovision of a rotation-prevention means produced from a relativelyrigid material, the danger of a possible yielding of the material uponoccurrence of high forces and moments is reduced. Particularly in caseof a bicycle handle provided with a barend, the forces occurring on thefree end of the barend and the resultant moments generated on therotation-prevention means can be accommodated; thereby, a rotationaldisplacement of the barend will be avoided even if large forces aregenerated.

With the aid of the rotation-prevention means of the disclosure, atorsional strength of the bicycle handle higher than 40 Nm, particularlyhigher than 50 Nm can be obtained. Thereby, it is safeguarded that alsoin case of occurrence of large forces particularly also on the barend,rotational displacement of the bicycle handle will be prevented. This isof high relevance under the safety aspect.

The clamping attachment of the bicycle handle, especially of therotation-prevention means, is preferably performed with the aid of ascrew. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the bicycle handle ofthe disclosure, said screw has a tightening torque of about 10 Nm.

Due to the inventive provision of a rotation-prevention means betweenthe clamping device and the handlebar, and due to the fact that theclamping device extends also into a clamping region of the shell, it isalready sufficient to provide only one clamping device. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, the clamping device is connected tothe barend and is thus arranged on the outer side of the handlebar andthe bicycle handle, respectively. An additional clamping device on theinner side of the bicycle handle is not necessitated.

The provision of a the rotation-prevention means as a separate componentoffers the further advantage that the rotation-prevention means itselfcan be manufactured from a stiff material such as metal or aluminum,whereas the clamping device surrounding the rotation-prevention meanscan be made of a softer material such as e.g. a plastic and/or compositematerial. The resultant advantage resides in that the clamping deviceitself can be shaped individually, particularly under the ergonomicaspect. Also the production of shapes of higher complexity isfacilitated when using plastic. Especially if the clamping device andthe barend are combined into one integral unit, the use of plastic ispreferable since this will allow for an improved gripping comfort andfor a cost reduction as well.

The disclosure will be explained in greater detail hereunder asexemplified by preferred embodiments thereof with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of abicycle handle of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the rotation-preventionmeans;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the rotation-prevention means;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged schematic plan view of the clamping region; and

FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of thebicycle handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The bicycle handle comprises a shell 10 configured to be mounted to abicycle handlebar 12. A grip element 14 is connected to shell 10. Theconnection between shell 10 and grip element 14 is effected e.g. bybonding. It can also be provided that the grip element 14 and the shell10 are formed as one integral piece. Provided on one end of shell 10 isa clamping region 16, with a slot 18 extending preferably along thewhole width of the clamping region.

With the aid of a clamping device 20 which in the illustrated embodimentis formed as a part of a barend 28, shell 10 is fastened to handlebar 12by clamping. For this purpose, clamping device 20 is provided with aslot 22 extending throughout the width of clamping device 20. Clampingdevice 20 includes a cylindrical interior space 24, with the innerdiameter thereof corresponding to the outer diameter of shell 10 in theclamping region 16. With the aid of a screw or another fasteningelement, the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 24 of clampingdevice 20 can be reduced by advancing said screw into a threaded bore26. In this manner, the slotted shell 10 will be clamped to handlebar12. In order to avoid a rotational displacement of barend 28 connectedto clamping device 20, which might occur especially in case of highforces, a rotation-prevention means 30 is provided. High forces tend tooccur particularly if the barend 28 has a large length and/or is seizedon its outer end. Further, high forces will occur particularly whenriding a bicycle on outdoor terrain.

The rotation-prevention means 30 comprises a slot 32 formed in the axialdirection, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of handlebar 12, and hasan annular shape. In the mounted condition, an inner side 34 ofrotation-prevention means 30 is arranged in abutment on an outer side 36(FIG. 1) of bicycle handlebar 12, wherein, due to the frictionprevailing between the rotation-prevention means 30 and the bicyclehandlebar 12, a rotational displacement of barend 28 is avoided even insituations of high forces.

Thus, in the particularly preferred embodiment illustrated in thedrawings, the clamping device 20 comprises a cylindrical clampingsurface 37. The width of clamping surface 37, i.e. the dimension ofclamping surface 37 in the longitudinal direction of handlebar 12,corresponds to the sum of the widths of rotation-prevention means 30 andof clamping region 16. An outer side 31 of rotation-prevention means 30is also cylindrical and has the same diameter as the clamping region 16which itself also forms a cylindrical face.

Particularly, the rotation-prevention means 30 comprises a recess 38.This recess 38 is engaged by a projection 40 (FIG. 4) of shell 10. Thisengagement is effective to prevent a rotational displacement of therotation-prevention means relative to shell 10. Thus, therotation-prevention means 30 safeguards that the barend 28 is notallowed to rotate relative to the shell 10 and respectively the gripelement 14 connected to shell 10, as well as relative to the handlebar12.

Of course, also a plural number of the above toothing arrangements 38,40can be provided so as to reduce the forces acting on a flank 42 ofrecess 30 (FIG. 2).

A further embodiment of the disclosure illustrated in FIG. 5 relates toa bicycle handle whose interior configuration corresponds to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1. The design of the grip element 14,however, is different in that a support element 44 is connected to gripelement 14 or is formed as an integral part of grip element 14. Supportelement 44 serves for support of the palm of a hand, thus resulting inan ergonomically shaped handle.

1. A bicycle handle, in particular for trekking and mountain bikes,comprising a sleeve having a sleeve slot formed therein and beingprovided to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar, said sleeve comprising aclamping region arranged at an edge of the sleeve, a clamping device atleast partially arranged in said clamping region of the sleeve, and agrip element connected to the sleeve, wherein a rotation-preventiondevice is arranged between the clamping device and the bicyclehandlebar.
 2. The bicycle handle according to claim 1, wherein saidrotation-prevention device at least partially surrounds the bicyclehandlebar.
 3. The bicycle handle according to claim 1, wherein saidrotation-prevention device is of an annular shape.
 4. The bicycle handleaccording to claim 1, wherein said rotation-prevention device has a slotformed therein.
 5. The bicycle handle according to claim 1, wherein saidrotation-prevention device is arranged adjacent to the clamping regionof the sleeve.
 6. The bicycle handle according to claim 1, wherein saidrotation-prevention device has substantially the same outer diameter asthe clamping region of the sleeve.
 7. The bicycle handle according toclaim 1, wherein said clamping device completely surrounds saidrotation-prevention device.
 8. The bicycle handle according to claim 1,wherein said clamping device comprises a clamping surface being abuttedby said rotation-prevention device and extending into the clampingregion of the sleeve.
 9. The bicycle handle according to claim 1,wherein said rotation-prevention device is connected to the sleeve. 10.The bicycle handle according to claim 1, wherein saidrotation-prevention device is connected to the sleeve by a form-fittingconnection.
 11. The bicycle handle according to claim 9, wherein saidrotation-prevention device or the shell comprises an axially extendingrecess which is engaged by a projection arranged on the shell or on saidrotation-prevention device and extending in axial direction.
 12. Thebicycle handle according to claim 1, wherein said rotation-preventiondevice is made of metal.
 13. The bicycle handle according to claim 1,further comprising a barend is provided which is connected to saidclamping device.